Monday, April 28, 2008

I don’t usually have too much trouble stringing sentences together (quality varies), but I’m kind of stuck right now, so simplest is best.Le has withdrawn from Fine Dry Wit; actually she did so awhile ago, but I’ve been dragging my feet about mentioning it, and taking her picture down. All things pass, and she knows I wish her all the best that God has for her. We became friends at Michael’s site, and that is forever. I look forward to meeting her and Allan in Heaven, where we can laugh about the good old days.They both have contributed greatly to FDW, and I greatly appreciate that we’ve had fun and honored God through our little soapbox on the web. The friendships made and conversations enjoyed have far outweighed a few unseemly events. It’s been a pleasure, and now, I have a choice to consider:‘Blogging’ has become passé. We never have had much traffic, but it used to be much busier than it is now. Even the Facebooks and MySpace pages, which ‘stole the thunder’ away from Blogging have in turn become quieter, as whatever is coming next supersedes them.Michael and Lachen, two of our blogging buddies, have stopped updating their sites; I know Michael is busy with his business. God knows how Lachen is doing-she had some health concerns; she is a sweetheart, and I pray that God will continue to Bless her and her family.My point is…do I continue to run FDW? Is there any interest, or has this blog run it’s course, and should it be retired?I have a friend who has encouraged me to ‘sign up’ for a few “Christian Facebook/MySpace” sites, which, if I did join, could result in more traffic, links back to FDW. I’ve avoided vanity sites, even Christian ones, as I’ve never been interested in ‘networking’ my personal life. I like my privacy, and don’t care to ‘put myself out there’ except in this forum, the written word. To be honest, my personal life would make one boring Myspace page.But it might spark interest, bring traffic to FDW. I don’t know. So I’m opening it up, seeking counsel. If anyone wants to comment on whether or not I should continue FDW, please add your 2 cents.To le and Allan-thank you both for being a part of FDW-you’ve made it better, and may God Bless you and your families.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

The picture isn’t meant to portray Hillary Clinton as a terrorist-even though I borrowed the rifle from one of Al Zawahiri’s screenshots. He poses the artillery to show that he is at war, playing tough.Hillary Clinton is at war, is playing tough, is ‘in it to win it’…even though, much like the Detroit Tigers, she has already been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. In order for her to succeed, the rest of the division (Obama) would have to bow out. Tain’t likely.Remember that she’s a lawyer, not a mathematician.Does anyone know what we call someone who is completely out of touch with Reality? That’s right.Here’s the problem of the world: God is ignored.Lives are lived in this cosmos, this world order- tyrants tyrannize, leaders pompositate, the young grow up into cynical Godless wastrels, led into darkness by the generations before them.The peoples of the world do not want to honor God, revere God-often they only revere themselves, but enough about Al Gore.In our country, the efforts to obliterate the very mention of God, let alone reverence for God, are the machinations of those parts of our society who have built their entire lives around the idea that God doesn’t exist.A friend recently asked me why Christians seem to lean towards the right end of the political spectrum.I said, “Well, Obama’s a Christian.” which made him smile-then I explained that my political beliefs are informed by my theology. I used the example of Abortion. Even though it is legal in this country, I consider it immoral, see it as murder. So I am more in line politically with those who avow the same belief. If I stood up in a Democratic Party caucus and said, “Mr. Chairman, I believe that we should add a plank to our platform declaring that Abortion is murdering innocents, and we should do all that we can to have Abortion abolished!”…I would be shown the door. Tarred and feathered. Spat upon. But they would still ask for a donation.In my opinion, not one of the three candidates for President still standing is worthy of the Office. Maybe “The Office” on NBC, but not the Oval Office. I’d love to be able to start from scratch, and I don’t think I’m alone in that.No matter who gets the gig, my life (and I hope yours) remains the same:“8 He has told you, O man, what is good;And what does the LORD require of youBut to do justice, to love kindness,And to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

Sunday, April 20, 2008

1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.10God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good. 11Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so. 12The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.1Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.2 Before the mountains were bornOr You gave birth to the earth and the world,Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

18 For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens(He is the God who formed the earth and made it,He established it and did not create it a waste place,But formed it to be inhabited),9 The LORD is good to all,And His mercies are over all His works.10 All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD,And Your godly ones shall bless You.1 The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains,The world, and those who dwell in it.2 For He has founded it upon the seasAnd established it upon the rivers.90 Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations;You established the earth, and it stands.1 The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;Let the many islands be glad.2 Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.1God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.8But of the Son He says,“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.9 “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;Therefore God, Your God, has anointed YouWith the oil of gladness above Your companions.”10And,“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,And the heavens are the works of Your hands;11 They will perish, but You remain;And they all will become old like a garment,12 And like a mantle You will roll them up;Like a garment they will also be changed.But You are the same,And Your years will not come to an end.”

I think you get the idea. These are just a few of the Scriptures which state that:God made the Earth.God owns the Earth.God maintains the Earth.God is eternal, and the Earth is temporary.I have no problem with those who want to be good caretakers of God’s possession.God is the Supreme Environmentalist.“He established it and did not create it a waste place,But formed it to be inhabited”ButAny environmentially-minded indiv who wants to ‘Save The Planet’with his or her own pitiful efforts, without recognizing God’s Omnipotence and Ownership of the planet, is like the man who built his house on the sand-foolish.“37 Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass,Unless the Lord has commanded it?38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most HighThat both good and ill go forth?39 Why should any living mortal, or any man,Offer complaint in view of his sins?40 Let us examine and probe our ways,And let us return to the LORD.”Lamentations 3:37-40

Sunday, April 13, 2008

I’m a kid again. It’s baseball season, Boston beat the Yankees tonight, and all is right with the baseball world. Okay, my Braves lost, but what is sweet without the bitter to make it even more sweet?Major League Baseball is once again commemorating Jackie Robinson on April 15, the anniversary of his major league debut.Talk about bitter with the sweet. Baseball and America were much more racist in 1947 than we are now.Think about that-it’s societal progress and Baseball mirrors what is happening in the rest of the world.

Baseball is truly colorblind now. Ability is the standard: if you can play, if you can win; it doesn’t matter what color you are. There are no positions on the field exclusive to any race-pitchers, catchers, infield, outfield…all races are well represented at every position, or will be in the next few years.In America, we are also becoming colorblind: ability is the fair standard by which we should all be judged.Admittedly, we have a share in a racist past, just as Baseball does. But the guilt of earlier generations doesn’t stain us today.Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream is alive and well in 2008, and if he were alive today, I believe he would be proud of how much progress we have made towards a colorblind world. I can imagine him and Jackie Robinson cheering us on.

The Boston Red Sox were the last Major League team to integrate, in 1959. The BoSox of 2008 cover the color spectrum nearly to ultraviolet, but not because of race-every player is there because of his ability.They can play. They Win; that is the bottom line which obliterates any color barrier.

God is colorblind. Our Creator didn’t designate a color-caste system for us-not only are all men created equal, but all of us are created in the image of God. Christianity is neither race exclusive nor race inclusive. It isn’t dependent on being Jewish or Greek or African or Asian or whatever else. Jesus said, 28“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”Matthew 11:28-30All means all. Heaven won’t be segregated, and, if we continue to make progress in this world, neither will we.

Sunday, April 06, 2008

“24“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”John 5:24

That’s it. That is the Gospel in one sentence, spoken by Jesus Himself.Now, some churches and Christians believe that a person can sin his way out of the Kingdom-fall out of Grace, slide back into the world and straight into Hell when they die.In other words, they can fail God so completely that God will kick them out.I don’t believe that. I believe that we all fail God, but God never fails us.

“1Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

Think about it. If we are born again, not by our own works but through God’s Spirit indwelling us, it is impossible for us to undo what God has done.

“27“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29“My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30“I and the Father are one.”John 10:27-30

Faith can grow cold, Christians do sometimes rebel, just as some children rebel against their parents here on earth. But such rebellion doesn’t change the relationship. And God, Who readied us for Heaven, will cast none of His Children into Hell.My life is a testimony to God’s not giving up on a rebellious child. I can tell you that it is much better to be at peace with God. May God richly Bless you today.

Friday, April 04, 2008

Isn’t it great that the Democrats have decided to extend “April Fool’s Day” all the way to November 2nd?

This is hardly a political post-I’m already ready to vote already; if we could be done with it all tomorrow, I’d be happier than Bill Clinton at St Alphonzo’s Pancake Breakfast (where he stole the margarine).We are still waiting for our federally funded bribe, the 2008 version of “a chicken in every pot.” Why is it that the only issue which receives bi-partisan support has to do with the redistribution of wealth?I will take the $600.00 which the gummint is forcing upon me. They’ve (often) done worse things than give me money. They could really impress me by allowing the economy to sort itself out, rather than Congress getting involved. Congress is how we got our “housing mess” in the first place, and the more croo…excuse me, the more ‘Cooks’ that get involved, the more the broth spoils. They should leave bad enough alone.As I said, this isn’t really a political post. The happiest man in the nation is George Bush, who knows that he has less than a year left in office. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that he has one of those “Bush Countdown” calendars hanging up somewhere. He’s a good man, and has done great service to our country.I haven’t always agreed with him, but he single-handedly kept us from having to say “President Gore” or ”President Kerry”. Thank you, Mr. President.“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”I don’t worry. I wish I could say that I never worry, but that would be a lie. But generally, I remember this verse and dozens of others sprinkled throughout the Bible which tell me that I needn’t worry about anything at all.So if someone whom I disagree with politically wins the White House, (probability has climbed to 100%) I’m still fine. I will render unto whichever Caesar we end up with that which belongs to Caesar. But my King is in Heaven, and will be returning soon to this earth, putting an end to the tyranny of fools AND politics. Can I get an Amen?AMEN! Even so, come Lord Jesus!